Classification numbering characters
NOTE: Record numbers are limited to a length of 50 characters or digits. If you use part numbering, then you should limit the main record number string to 48 digits to allow for the two-digit part number minus up to five part separators.
Every Classification must have a unique identifying number.
The Classification numbering system uses placeholders to represent numbers, letters or dates that provide these unique numbers.
Using placeholders means that Content Manager can automatically generate unique record numbers and Classification numbers.
The table below lists the placeholders you can use in your Classification numbering system.
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
| A | An alphabetic character that must be typed in at the time of creating a record |
| B | An alphabetic character that must be typed in at the time of creating a record - trailing blanks are allowed |
| G | A number that will be automatically generated by Content Manager, maximum of nine digits |
| N | A numeric digit that must be typed in at the time of creating a record, maximum of nine digits |
| Z | Any alphabetic or numeric character that must be typed in at the time of creating a record except for the constant insertion characters described below |
| X |
Any character that must be typed in at the time of creating a record - trailing blanks are allowed. However, this pattern does not compress leading zeros and is not recommended for a number pattern that will use part numbering because the part number separator may be too difficult to determine. |
The following placeholders are possible but tend not to be used for defining Classifications within a Classification plan because of the possibility of non-unique numbers being generated:
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
| K | A constant alphabetic character that is copied from Start Numbering After field |
| L | A constant alphabetic or numeric character that is copied from the Start Numbering After field - trailing blanks are allowed |
| Y |
A symbol for the year. Content Manager automatically uses your computer's date. For example, YY = 03 YYYY = 2003 - recommended for more accurate and year 2000 sorting of record numbers |
| M | The current month - should be two digits |
| D | The current day - should be two digits |
TIP: Use upper case placeholders if you want the number to be compressed.
Content Manager always displays the Classification numbers in the expanded pattern.
When you save the record, Content Manager displays the number according to the pattern's case - that is, if it has been defined with an uppercase GGG pattern, then no leading zeros will appear.
If it has been defined with a lowercase ggg pattern, it will display leading zeros.
| Separator characters for record number patterns | |
|---|---|
| _ | Underscore |
| - | Hyphen |
| : | Colon |
| \ | Backslash |
| ~ | Tilde |
| # | Number sign |
| > | Closing angle bracket |
| % | Percent |
| . | Full stop |